Quick lock-up for plate cylinders



""Feh 7, 1928.

3 Sheets-Sheet l C. S. CRAFTS QUICK LOCK-UP FOR PLATE GYLINDERS Filed De? 4, 1925 7 5- 5-1 Feb. 7, 1928.

C. S. CRAFTS i QUICK LOCK-UP FOR PLATE C Y`LINDERS 3 Sheets-Sheet, 2

Filed Dec. 4, 1925 INVENTo ATTO EY Feb. 7, 1928.

' 1,658,034 C. S. CRAFTS QUICK LOCK-UP FOR Filed DSC. 4. 1925 3 Sheets-Sh FY/ f A TTO EY Patented Feb. 7,1928.

UNITED STATES 1,658,034 PATENT OFFICE.

CURTIS S. CRAFTS, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GOSS PRINTING PRESS COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS. 4

QUICK LOCK-UP FOR-PLATE CYLINDERS. i

Application filed. December .4, 1925.v Serial N'o. 73,115.

My inventiony relates to printing presses, and more particularly to a quick lock-up for plate cylinders, in which the clips can be quickly changed to diierent positions, to correspond with different numbers of columns, or sheet widths, which may be desired lto be printed on a newspaper, or other printed product.

Objects and advantages of the invention.

will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means lof the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. l

The invention consists iii the novel paits, constructions, arrangements, combinations, articles of manufacture, and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and

together with the description, serve to eX- plain the principles of the invention;

0f the. drawings y Fig. 1 is a plan view of the end of a plate cylinder, showing a printing plate locked in position; i h

' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary' end elevation of a part of the printing plate cylinder' shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the cylinder being broken away; n

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, through the plate cylinder, showing the clips adjusted for a seven column paper, or other printed product; y

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary verticalsection, similar to Fig. 3, but s owing the parts adjusted to print a six column newspaper, or other printed product;

F ig. 5 is a` detail sectionalview showing one of the clip rods in its unlocked position;

Fig.; 6 is a sectional view through the outer clip with the clip` rod turned into the fixed position; g

Fig. '7 is av detail vertical section on the line 7-7'011 Figo;

Fig. 8. is a vsectional viewy through the outer clip, similar to Fig. 7, but showing the clip rod turned to permit the clips to slide on the clip rod.

In printingl a newspaper, or other printed product, it is frequently necessary to change such clips being shown in Fig. l.

the clips, holding the plates on they cylinder, so that.v a newspaper, or other printed product, of a diiferent number of columns can be printed. For purposes of -illustration, I will refer to Fig. 3 as yshowing the` positionot the partsto vprint av newspaper ot seven columns, and Fig.,4 the position of the 4clips toprint a-vnewspaper, or similar product, of siX columns.' While I will ret'er to printed products of siX orseven columns, it is to be understood that these are simply illustrative, for rmy invention is adapted to In the torin'of my invention, shown by way of illustration, 1 is any suitable form of plate cylinder upon which is secured the printing plate 2 by the outer clipsy 3, 3 four ating with these outer clips 3,l 3 are the inner clips 4, 4, one being shown inA Figs. 3 and 4. It'is understood that there are'four of such inner clips 4 for each printing plate, making eight clips'in all for each printingV plate.

O n the periphery of the plate cylinder 1, are a pluralityof longitudinally extending grooves 5 within each of which slide an outer and an inner clip 3 and 4, and also a` clip rod 6. This clip rod 6 is preferably, for purpose of convenience in manufacturapforined 'of two parts 7 Vand-8. The end of the portion 7 is provided with female threads 9 to cooperate with lthe male threads 10 on the portion 8. A' lock nut 11 is mounted on ythe threads 10. The portion 7 ot the clip rod 6 has its opposite sides milled oli toform the flat sides 12, 12; it is provi-ded, on a portion of its exterior, with locking means ,inl the form of mutilated substantially parallel ribs 13, *1 3 to' engagey with thecooperating locking mutilated grooves 14, 14 in the outer clip 3. A check nut or stop- 16 is-mounted on lthe portion '7 of the clip rod 6 and is heldin its adjusted position by the set screw y17.

The portion 7 of the clip rod is provided with a shouldery 18, the end 19 being preferably formed square,`or ,non-circular, to be engaged by a spanne'r, monkey wrench, or other tool.- Near vthe squared end 1.9, I se- Cooperf grooves 26, 26 on the sleeve 24. The portion 8 of the clip rod 6, is milled off on either side to form the two flat 'sides 27, 27.

Any 'known or other suitable means may be provided for preventing rotation of the sleeve 24 in order to keep the grooves on the sleeve and on the rod 27 in proper operative relation, such as a screw working in a slot, a spline or other known device.

The sleeve 24 is provided with an integral shoulder 28, and with a collar 29 held by a set screw 30. The shoulder 28 and collar 29 limit the travel of the inner clip 4 on the sleeve 24. ,y v

' Check nuts o'r stops 16 and 31 are spaced and secured on the clip rod 6 for a paper or `other printed product of, for example, 7 columns. Check nuts or stops 31 and 32 are secured to the different members'of the clip rod 6 for a different number of columns, for example, a siX column newspaper or other kprinted product.

The lock-up plate 34, supported by the guide studs 35, 35 is provided with a recess 36 to receive the ends of the clipy rod 6, and the coil spring 22 which bears against the shoulder 18 on the clip rod 6 and one ofthe end plates 37, which plates are secured to the face of the lock-up plate 34 by the screws 38, 38, there being, in the form shown', a separate v end plate for each clip rod 6.

Assuming that the plate cylinder 1 is lto print from an inner plate 39, as Well as from .an outer printing plate 2, and that the newsfpaper, or other printed product, is, for example, to have seven columns, my lock-up will 'then be in the position shown in Fig. 3',

in' which the inner plate 39 cooperates with the fixed center clip 40 and with the movable inner clip 4 and the outer clip'3. `When an outer plate 2 is used I preferablyA adjust the check nut or stop 31 on the member 8 to leave a space 41 between the shoulder 28 on the sleeve24 and the inner clip 4, see Fig. 3, Vfor a purpose to be `more fully hereinafter described.

I employ the usual eccentriclock-up formed of a shaft 43 mounted in the lockup plate V34, the eccentric end 44 of the shaft 43 being mounted in a shoe 45, mounted in a recess-46 in the end 47 of the hub of the plate cylinder 41. Bywplacing the key 48 lin the seat 49,

formed for its reception in the end of the shaft 43, the'lock-up plate 34 is caused to move to or from the plate cylinder to actuate the different clip rods 6, 6 to lock or unlock the different printingV plates carried bythe plate cylinder. f

When the key 48 is operated, in the manner just described, to lock the outer printing plate 2 and the inner plate 39 to print a newspaper, for example, havingseven colunins, the parts will be in the position shown in Fig. 3, where the spring 22 is compressed between the end plate 37 and the shoulder 18 on the clip rod G', thereby firmly but yieldingly pressing the clip rod 6 to the'right, causing the lockinv mutilated ribs A13,13 on the portion7 of the clip rod 6 to force the outer clip 3, having the cooperating 'locking grooves 14, 14 to move to the right of Fig. 3 and transmit the locking spring pressure of the spring 22 through theouter clip 3, outer printing plate 2, inner clip 4, inner printing plate 39, and thence to the'iixed center clip 40.

It will be noted that in this position of the parts that the space 41 between theshoulder 28 on the sleeve 24 and the inner clip 4 will prevent the portion 8 of the clip rod 6v transmitting any pressure through the check nut or stop 31 to the inner clip 4, thereby p eimitting the entire strain of the locking spring` 22 to be' transmitted through the outer and inner printing plates to the center fixed clip 40.

To release the printing plates 2 and 39 the eccentric lock-up is operated by the key 48 in the opposite direction to permitthe lockup plate 34, with its end plates 37, to move to the left ofl the position shown in Fig. V3 and into the position shown in Fig. 5,'whicli is the unlocked position. This permits the outer and inner printing plates to be removed and replaced with other plates to print a newspaper, or other printed product, ofthe same Width of sheet, here'referred to, for purposes of description, as seven columns;

' In unlocking the eccentric lock-up and. with more particular reference to. Fig. .5, it

will bel seen that when the spring 22 is re leased it Will have a tendency to forcethe end plate 37 and the lock-up plate '34, on which it is mounted, so far lto the left inv Fig. 5, that the surface 51 on the klock-up plate 34 would engage with the surface 52 on the shoulder 18,; were it not prevented from doing so. To prevent these two surfaces 52 and 51 from contacting with each other, I mount the collar 20 on theclip rod 6, which collar passes freely in the opening 53 in the end plate 37. The coil.spring.22 is sufficiently large that it not only engages with the interior surface 55 of theend' plate 3,7, but also with the inner surface ofthe collar 20, when the partsare unlocked as shown in Fig. 5. This collar 2O is adjusted Vby the set screw 21 to a position on :the clip rod 6 so that it will engage the spring 22 'Ito Y before the spring can bring ythe sur-face 51 on the lock-up plate 37 into contact With the surface 52 on the shoulder 18, leaving a space or clearance 56- as. shown in Fig. 5.

This is particularly desirable, for if these two surfaces 51 and 52. contacted with Aeach other under the action of t-he spring 22., so much friction Would be; developed at this point that it would be d-iiicult for a hand tool to operate the clip rod 6.

lit-h the parts in their unlocked position (Fig. 5), When it is desired to. print a.. newspaper, or other printed product, of a less number of columns, as for example, six columns, all that is necessary is for the operator to turn the square end 19 of the clip rod a'quarter of a turn to free the parallel mutilated locking ribs 13, 13 on the clip rod 6 from the complementary mutilated locking grooves .14,y 14 on the outer clips 3. This quarter rotation, at thesame time, disengagesl the mutilated locking ribs 25, 2:5 on the portion 8 of the4 clip rod 6 from the comple,- mentary mutilated locking grooves ,26, 26 in thev sleeve 24 on which sleeve the inner clip is loosely mounted.

The operator can then slideby hand the outer clip 3, until it engages the. check nut or stop 31, has previously been adjusted for a siX column newspaper, or other printed product; or adjusted for any other desired Width ot sheet. The sleeve 24 is then moved along the. portion 8 ofi the clip rod 6 until the end of' the sleeve engagesY with. the check nut or stop 32.. This. check nut or stop 3.2

has been previously adjfust'ed for six columns, or the desired Width of sheet.

The end 19 of the clip rod 6- is then turned back a quarter turn into its original position when the mutilated parallel ribs 13, 13 on the clip rod Will engage with their-complementary mutilated grooves 14,. 14 in the outer clip 3 and the mutilated ribs: 25, 25 Will engage Withv their complementary mutilated grooves 26, 26 in the sleeve 24.

The smaller printing plates are then located on the plate cylinder. The lock-up is then operated to lock up these smaller printing plates of six columns, or anyy other desired Width of sheet to be printed.

vWhen it is desired to operate the plate cylinder 1, Without an .outer plate 2, this can readily be done for the pressure of the lock-upspring 22 Will be transmitted through the clip rod 6 to the check nut or stop 30, shoulder 28, innerclip 4, and thence to the center clip '40. With no outer plate 2, the space 41 would be eliminated by movement of the clip rod to the right'of the position shown in Fig. 3. When the plates are unlocked by the. eccentric.` lock-up ythe cooperating mutilated ribs: 25, 25` on the clip member 8 of the clip rod 6, cooperating with the mutilated grooves 26, 26 on the sleeve 24 Will cause the collar 29 to engage shorter or longer plate.

With'the innery clip 4 and'move, it to the left of the position shown in Fig. 3, and away from the inner printing plate 39, so that. the inner printing plate can be lifted off of the plate cylinder l Without interference from the inner clip 4. The mutilated ribs 13, 13 on thefportion 7 of the cliprod 6 cooperating with the mutilated grooves. 14, 14 in the out-er clip 3. will release the outerl clip 3 from the outer printing plate 2 so that that printing plate can be lifted from the plate cylinder 1.

In the speciication and claims, reference has been made to dierent number of. columns or diffe-rent column Widths, as Well as to different number of columns or widthvof sheet to be printed. Itis to be understood that these terms are meant to, and do cover different lengths of stereotype plates regardless: of the width of sheet, or the Width of printed matter, or the number of columns. It is clear that any number of columns can be printed with the same length plate and with the same Width of printed matter and the same Width of sheet by varying widths of' the columns. Itv is also possible Ato -vary the Width ofthe printed matter Without varying the length of the stereotype plates or the Width of the printed sheet. In such case the width of the margin would vary,` as for example,l by casting a blank margin on the end of the stereotype plates. By. arranging the printed matter and blank margin on the stereotype castings, it would be possible to print on different Widths of sheets Without. varying the length of the plates. Again stereotype plates are not always cast with the columns transverse to the axis of' they printing cylinder.. They are often cast with the columns running parallel with the axis of the cylinder. In such cases the Width of the printedmatter wouldv become the length of the columns, and a shorter or longer column might necessitate a All these uses are, and are meant to be, included in the claims.

The inventionv in its broader aspectsis not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom. Within the scope of the accompanying claims without kdeparting from. the principlesr of the invention and VWithout sacrificing its chief advantages. y

What I. claim is f 1. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod provided with locking means to engage With locking means carried by a clip, 'a clip provided -W'ith locking means to engagey with the locking means on the clip rod, said lockl 'y ing means being engaged and disengaged on a partial rotation ot' the clip rod to permit the clip to, be properly spaced for papers or other printed lproducts having different nu-mber ot' columns or width of sheet, a second -tween the clip and 'ferent number ot clip associa'tedwith said clip rod, and means :lor'equalizingv the locking pressure ofsaid clips' y,

2. The combination' of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod provided with locking means to engage With locking -in'eans carried by a clip, a clip provided with lockingmeans to engage With the locking -means on 'the clip rod, said `locking means being engaged and| disengaged 0n a partial `rotation et the clip rod to permit the clip to be properly spaced tor papers or other printed `products having different number` of coluinns'or-Width of sheet, and stops Vto properly position the clip for different number of columns, or Width of sheet. 4

8. The combination o'lia quick lock-up for plate cylinders including al clip rod provided jvith locking means to engage With locking` means'.carried by al 'clip5 a clip provided with locking means to engage with the locking means' on the' clip 'rod7 said locking' means beingl engaged and diseneaged on a partial rotation oli the clip rod to permit the clip to be f properlyspaced -or papers or other printed products having diiljerent'nuinber of lc'oluinnsor Width of sheet, and check nuts tov 4properly position the clip 'for different number of columns, or Width ol sheet.

a. The combination in a plate cylinder printing` piessfoif a quick lock-up includingI a vclip',Y a clip rod,-` and locking means beclip rod `operated by a partial rotation or one oit said members, a second clip associated with said clip rod, 'and means tor equalizing the locking pressure 'of said c-lips.

5. The combination in a plate cylinder printing` press of a quick lock-up including.

a clip, =a`clip rod, `and locking means betiveen the' clip and Iclip rod operated byV a lpartial rotation ot the clip rod, a second clip associated with said clip rod, and means associatedwvitli said clip rod for equalizing the locking pressure oi saidclips.

6.1The combination in a plate cylinder printing press ot a quick lock-up including a clip, *aclip' rod, and locking means between the* clip and clip rodr operated byv a partialrotation oit one oit said-members,v and stops to properly. position the clipiior dit columns or Width of sheet to be printed. v y

'a'. The combination in a plate cylinder printing `press 'of a quick lock-up including` aclipgfa clip rodi and lool-:ingg'means betWeen the 'clip and clip rod operated by a partialhrotation' oit one of said members, and

'check nuts to properly position the clip tor 'different number ot columns or Widtlrot sheet` to be printed.

8. rlhe combination of a quick lock-up ier 'plate cylinders includ-ing a clip rodv pro-vided ,with locking,meines to engage with locking printed products having` diiierentnuniber.

of columns or VWidthotsheet7 a lock-up plate to lock the clip rod and clip, and a second clip slidably associated'with said clip rod.

S). The combination in a plate cylinder printing Vpress* ot a quick lock-up including a clip7 a clip rod,and locking means between the clip and clip rodoperated by'a 'partial rotation of. ene of said members, a second clip, and means including ,a lock-up plate ifor holding` said clips iirlocking` position with equal pressure.

l0.l The combination in a plate cylinder printing press ot a quick lock-up including av clipyav clip rod, locking means between the clip and clip rod operated'by av partial rotation ot' the clip rod, a second clip, and yieldable means associated with` said V'clip rod for holding,y said l' clips' ,in locking position and equalizing their locking pressure'. f l

il. rIhecombinationf in. a platecylinder printing press o'i'a quick lock-up v4including a :clip7 `a clip rod, lockingv means between the clip and clip rod operated by a partial rotation of one of said members, stops to properly position the clip for different number| ot' columns or Width of sheet to beprinted, and a lock-up plate to lock the ,clip rod and clip.

l2. The combination in a plate cylinder of a quick lock-up including' 'an vouter clip,

-an inner clip, a clip rod and locking means between the clip rod and the inner and outer clips operated by a. partial rotation ottlie clip rod.

v13. The. combination in a plate'cylinder of a quick lock-up including .an outer clip,

an inner clip, a clip rodand locking,` means between the Vclip rod and the inner and outer clips operatedby la partial rotation ot the clip rod, and stops to properlypo-- sition the inner and outer clips .tordil'ern -ent number ot columns or Width-oi sheet to be printed. v

lffl. The combination` in a plate cylinder otaquick lock-up including an outer clip,

-an inner clip, a clip rod and lockingineans between the clip rod ,and thek inner .and

outer clips operated by a partial rotation et' the clip rod,` and a' loci-sup plate to lock the cliprod",v clips and printing plates.

l5. .The combination in. al plate cylinder of a quick lock-upA including anouter clip, an inner clip, a clip rod and locking means between the clip rod ano the inner and outer `clips operated by apartial rotation of the clipY rodfand stops to properly positionthe .inner and outer clips for different number of columns or Width ot' sheet to be printed, and a lock-up plate to lock the clip rod, clips, and printing plates.

16. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a yclip rod and clip provided with interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves to permit the clip to be properly spaced for papers or other printed products having a different number of columns or width of sheet.

17. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod and clip provided with interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves to permit the clip to be properly spaced for papers or other printed products having a different number ot' columns or width of sheet, and stops to properly position the clip for the ditferent number ot' columns or width of sheet to be printed.

18. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod and clip provided with interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves to permit the clip to be properly spaced for papers or other printed products having a different number of columns or width of sheet, a second clip, means for equalizing the locking pressure oi' said clips, and a lock-up plate to lock the clip rod and clips to a printing plate.

19. The combination of a quick lockup for plate cylinders including a clip rod, an outer clip, said rod and clip being provided with interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves, an inner clip, a sleeve on which the inner clip is mounted, and interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves between the clip rod and the sleeve to permit the clip to be properly spaced for papers or other printed products having diifl'erent number of columns or width of sheet.

20. The combination of a. quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod, an outer clip, said rod and clip being provided with interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves, an inner clip, a sleeve on which the inner clip is mounted, and interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves between the clip rod and the sleeve to permit the clip to be properly spaced for papers or other printed products having dierent number oit' columns or width of sheet, and stops to properly position the outer clip and thev sleeve for diiferent number of columns or width of sheet to be printed.

21. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod, an outer clip, said rod and clip being provided with interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves, an inner clip, a sleeve on which the inner clip is mounted, and interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves between the clip rod and the sleeve to permit the clip to be properly spaced for papers or other printed products having different number; of columns or f width of sheet and a lock-up plate,

22. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod, an outer clip, said rod and cli being provided with interlocking mutilatec ribs and grooves, an inner clip, a sleeve on which the inner clip is mounted, interlocking mutilated ribs and grooves between the clip rod and the sleeve to permit the clip to be properly spaced for papers or other printed p roducts having different number of columns or width of sheet, stops to properly position the -outer clip and the sleevefor different number of columns or width of sheet to be printed, and a lockup plate.

23. The combination in a plate printing cylinder of an inner cli loosely mounted on a sleeve, a sleeve, a clip rod and locking members on the sleeve and clip rod operated by a partial rotation of one of the members.

24. rlhe combination in a plate printing cylinder of an inner lclip loosely mounted on a sleeve, a sleeve, a clip rod and locking members on the sleeves and clip rod operated by a partial rotation of the clip rod.

25. The combination in a plate' printing cylinder of an inner clip loosely mounted on a sleeve, a sleeve, a clip rod and mutilated ribs and grooves between the clip rodA and sleeve.A

26. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod, an outer clip, means to lock the outerv clip to the clip rod, an inner clip, means to lock the inner clip to the clip rod when no outer printing plate is used, said locking means being inoperative when an outer printing plate is employed.V

27. The combination of a uick lock-up for plate cylinders including a c ip rod, an outer clip, means to lock the outer clip to the clip rod, an inner clip, means to lock the inner clip to the clip rod when no outer printing plate is used, said locking means being inoperative when an outer printing plate is employed, and a lock-up plate.

28. The combination of a quick lock-up for plate cylinders including a clip rod, an outer clip, means to lock the outer clip to the clip p rod, `an inner clip, means tolock the inner clip to the clip rod when no outer printing plate is used, said locking means being inoperative when an outer print-ing plate is employed, stops to properly position the inner and outer clips for .diii'erent number of columns or width of sheet to be printed, and a lock-up plate,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CURTIS S. CRAFTS. 

